Writers, actors give voice to art in 'Statue Stories Chicago'

Sculpted granite hands at Chicago Women's Park, honoring Jane Addams, awaken with a tap of a smartphone.

“Welcome to this garden of hands!” Steppenwolf ensemble member Amy Morton says, launching into a monologue written by children's author Blue Balliett.

“Helping Hands” is one of 31 sculptures that will talk to visitors via their cellphones over the next year as part of “Statue Stories Chicago,” an initiative sponsored by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to highlight the city's public art.

Colette Hiller of Sing London, the organization producing the project, brought the idea to Chicago after founding last year's “Talking Statues London.”

“Chicago has a history of being America's leading city for pioneering public art,” Hiller said. “There are statues and monuments all around, and we often pass them by without notice.”

The statues — and those speaking for them — are as diverse as the city itself.

Voices include a number of well-known stars with ties to the city, including John C. Reilly and Bob Balaban, and a host more with links to the suburbs. “The Big Bang Theory” star Johnny Galecki grew up in Oak Park, “New Girl” star Lamorne Morris attended Glenbard South High School, “Elementary” actor Jon Michael Hill is a Waukegan native and stage actor Anthony Fleming III hails from Downers Grove.

Shonda Rhimes speaks for Chicago's Miro, actor Steve Carell gives a voice to the “Man With Fish,” and actor Bob Newhart — appropriately — speaks for a statue of himself near Navy Pier.

To hear what each statue has to say, visitors scan the QR code on a labeled area nearby, use their phone's NFC function or input a given URL. Then, the statue will “call” and talk to the listener.

Among the “talking” city statues are Abraham Lincoln, the Picasso, Leif Ericson and the Greek goddess Hebe. Figures of stone will rouse in Humboldt Park, Lincoln Park, Grant Park and additional areas across the city.

“Statue Stories Chicago” aims to use technology to connect people to art.

“The idea is that by giving these statues an inner voice, this technology can be used effectively,” Hiller said. “The statue is now 'calling' you.”

When visitors receive a call from a figure such as Jane Addams through the “Helping Hands” statue, they learn the historical context. What might have appeared dated is reactivated through modern technology.

“It's so whimsical, inviting and fun,” Balliett said. “I think that Jane Addams would have loved this because her life was about hands touching hands and making dreams come true.”

Even lesser-known and abstract statues are given a voice. By promoting these works and landmarks, the project aims to create awareness of Chicago's rich culture.

“The statue of Nicolaus Copernicus (in front of the Adler Planetarium) tells the story of the Polish community,” Hiller said. “Some statues tell stories you know, but also those that deserve to be known. Collectively, it's the art that makes up the architecture and the city's landscape that tells the story of the entire city.”

Monologues for each statue were commissioned with the help of the Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, The Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Participating writers included local mystery authors Scott Turow and Sara Paretsky.

David Catlin, a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass, along with David Schwimmer, best known as Ross in the TV show “Friends,” created the monologue to animate Chicago's Cloud Gate structure. They utilized themes of identity and alternate worlds from Lewis Carroll's “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.”

“One of the things we were struck by initially was this idea that it's called 'Cloud Gate,' but most people call it 'The Bean,'” Catlin said. “In a way there's a built-in identity crisis. Also, Cloud Gate is this giant mirror. which is a source of one way we view our own identities.”

Different Chicago organizations will offer walking tours of the talking statues throughout the year. The project is slated to continue in other cities such as New York City and Washington, D.C., in the future.

“I think the idea is brilliant,” Catlin said. “It's a really wonderful opportunity for people to re-engage with the extraordinary art that our city has and to develop some empathy for different perspectives.”

“Statue Stories Chicago”

<b>Where:</b> Various locations throughout Chicago; see <a href="http://www.statuestorieschicago.com">statuestorieschicago.com</a>

<b>When:</b> Through Aug. 6, 2016